As television, “The Decision” ranks somewhere up there with “Manimal” and “B.J. and the Bear.”

But unlike those Neilson losers, “The Decision,” to a degree, continues to rate as meaningful media.

From this travesty, there actually has been a payoff.

Thursday, as he prepared for Game 2 of the NBA Finals, LeBron James again spoke of how the medium was perhaps not best for his message when it came to that nationally televised announcement that he would be leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat in free agency. But he also spoke about a message that might have been lost in the equation, but one that still resonates 11 months later.

Not only was $2 million raised for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America with the broadcast of his announcement at a Greenwich, Conn., club, but James said dividends continue to be paid.

“Of course it overshadowed what my main objective was, which was rightfully so, I understand,” he said, yet again distancing himself from that awkward moment.

“But it doesn’t matter. These kids are benefitting from it. There are so many clubs that are opening, not only here in Miami, but Cleveland and Akron and New York, Los Angeles.”

James said he has visited several club, increasingly appreciative of the mission.

“They get an opportunity to not only shed light on themselves, but to their community they’re in, to try to get them off the streets, after school,” he said. “And that’s the main thing. That’s when a lot of bad things happen with kids, after school, they don’t have anything to do. The Boys & Girls Club of America have done a great job and I’m just glad I was able to be a part of it and to shed light on it.”

Of course, he’s now keeping many of those same kids up way past their bedtimes.

Asked if he felt the youth of America are watching him to the finish of these games that are approaching midnight in the East, he said, “Absolutely.”

did the whole donation thing come out later or was it know this was going to be for donations b4 he did the show? if he did it for the doantions then he should get a pass for doing the corniest thing i ever heard of. but if the donation thing came out later, then i dont know if he just donated the $$ cuz he realized the backlash.